or political trust or employment of any kind
whatsoever, under the constitution or laws
of this State, or of the United States, or any
of them, or receive fees or perquisites of any
kind for the discharge of his official duties.
Art. 34. That a long continuance in the
executive departments of power or trust is
dangerous to liberty; a rotation, therefore,
in those departments is one of the best securi-
ties of permanent freedom.
Art. 35. That no person ought to hold at
the same time more than one office of profit
created by the constitution or laws of this
State; nor ought any person in public trust
to receive any present from any foreign prince,
or State, or from the United States, or any
of them, without the approbation of this
State.
Art. 36. That as it is the duty of every
man to worship God in such manner as he
thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons
are equally entitled to protection in their re-
ligious liberty, wherefore, no person ought,
by any law, to be molested in his person or
estate on account of his religious persuasion
or profession, or for his religions practice,
unless under the color of religion any man
shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety
of the State for shall infringe the laws of
morality, or injure others in their natural,
civil, or religious rights; nor ought any per-
son to be compelled to frequent or maintain,
or contribute, unless on contract, to main-
tain any place of worship or any ministry ;
nor shall any person be deemed incompetent
as a witness or juror who believes in the ex-
istence of God, and that under His dispensa-
tion such person will be held morally ac-
countable for his acts, and be rewarded or
punished therefor, either in this world or the
world to come.
Art. 37. That no other test or qualifica-
tion ought to be required on admission to
any office of trust or profit, than such oath
of allegiance and fidelity to this State and
the United States, as may be prescribed by
this constitution, and such oath of office and
qualification as may be prescribed by this
constitution, or by the laws of the State, and
a declaration of belief in the Christian reli
gion, or in the existence of God, and in a
future state of rewards and punishments,
Art. 38, That every gift, sale, or devise of
land, to any minister, public teacher or
preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any re
ligious sect, order or denomination, or to or |
for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust
for any minister, public teacher or preacher
of the gospel as such, or any religious
sect, order or denomination, and every
gift or sale of goods or chattels to go in
succession, or to take place after the death
of the seller or donor, to or for such support,
use or benefit; and, also; every devise of
goods or chattels, to or for the support, use
or benefit of any minister, public teacher or
preacher of the gospel, assuch; or any reli-
gious sect, order or denomination, without
the prior or subsequent sanction of the legis-
lature, shall be void; except always, any
sale, gift, lease, or devise of any quantity of
land, not exceeding five acres, for a church,
meeting house, or other house of worship, or
parsonage, or for a burrying ground, which
shall be improved enjoyed, or used only for
such purpose, or such sale, gift, lease) or
devise, shall be void,
Art. 39. That the manner of administering
an oath or affirmation, to any person, ought
to be such as those of the religious persua-
sion, profession, or denomination, of which
he is a member, generally esteem the most
effectual confirmation by the attestation of
the Divine Being.
Art. 10. That the liberty of the press ought
to be inviolably preserved; that every citizen
of the State ought to be allowed to speak,
write and publish his sentiments on all sub-
jects, being responsible for the abuse of that
liberty.
Art. 41. That monopolies are odious, con-
trary to the spirit of a free government and
the principles of commerce, and ought not
to be suffered.
Art. 42. That no title of nobility or her-
editary honors ought to be granted in this
State.
Art. 43. That the legislature ought to en-
courage the diffusion of knowledge and vir-
tue, the extension of a judicious system of
general education, the promotion of litera-
ture, the arts, sciences, agriculture, com-
merce and manufacture", and the general me-
lioration of the condition of the people,
Art. 44. This enumeration of rights shall
not be construed to impair or deny others
retained by the people.
Art. 4.">. That the legislature shall pass no
law providing for an alteration, change, or
abolishment of this constitution, except in
the manner therein prescribed and directed. |
